in order to increase the speed controlling accuracy of fast steering mirror (fsm) for image motion compensation and thus to increase the definition of picture taken by moving camera, active disturbance rejection control (adrc) is designed. first, mathematical model of fsm driven by voice coil motor (vcm) is established. next, adrc algorithm and its simplified form in actual application are clarified. finally, simulation research for controlled object is made. the result is compared to control effect of pid. simulation curves demonstrate that the settling time of adrc is 6 ms and the bandwidth of system attains 102.2 hz, which are nearly the same as those of pid. when the error is very small, it can converge to zero at a faster rate if adrc is used. when the same range disturbance is given to system, the relative error of adrc reaches 0.050%, which is about 42% of that of pid. © 2017 spie.